Curator defends 'Green Monster' Perth pitch ahead of final Test

Sydney, Nov 27(ANI): The Western Australia Cricket Association (WACA) pitch was dubbed the Green Monster last summer and Australia captain Michael Clarke has already expressed fears that the outcome of the third Test against South Africa could be decided by the coin toss, but curator Cameron Sutherland insists there is no need to worry.

Sutherland has claimed players can expect a fair contest between bat and ball if they pay respect to the conditions.

Clarke was unimpressed with the WACA wicket in September after guiding NSW to an eight-wicket Sheffield Shield victory over Western Australia inside three days.

Clarke is hopeful batters will be handed fairer conditions for the third Test against South Africa, starting Friday, but Sutherland was quick to defend the pitch he prepared in September, saying he was surprised by Clarke's criticism.

"It rated very good on the umpires match report, and my personal opinion was that it was a very good wicket. It didn't seam a lot. It certainly wasn't won on the toss of a coin, because NSW were 5-128 at one stage," the Age quoted Sutherland, as saying.

"They just took their chances better than WA. And the ironic thing is Michael scored his highest Shield score of the season on it. He got 78. But everyone's entitled to their opinions. I'll just talk to him when he gets here," he added. (ANI)

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